Explore what stress feels like in your body and mind
We can experience stress differently, based on our intersectional identities. LGBTQ+ stress is actually pretty unique, and here you can explore how it shows up and how to deal with it.
ACTIVITYReflect on what stress feels like in your body.
We all experience stress. Sometimes it can show up in unexpected ways. You can feel it as discomfort in your body.
Take inventory the ways stress shows up in your body:
LEARNStress and LGBTQ+ Mental Health
How much stress we experience, and what tools you have to deal with that stress, has a direct impact on how you feel and your mental health. There are daily realities of dealing with hetero-and cis-normative environments that results in LGBTQ+ people experiencing extra stress. Researchers call the stress related to being part of a minoritized group “minority stress,” and that extra stress can come from homophobia and transphobia, along with racism, classism, ableism, sexism, and/or xenophobia.
What that can look like in your day-to-day is experiencing stress that most young people face - in school, at home, with friends -- and additional stress that cis or straight peers don’t experience.
Experiencing minority stress is not your fault! We live in a homophobic and transphobic society that places extra stress on LGBTQ+ people’s shoulders. Society has to change, not you.
COMMUNITYYou’re not alone. Stress is real, and lots of folks experience it.
ACTIVITYPractice using your breath to help your body deal with stress.
We can’t always control what society or others say or do, or our immediate response, but we can control being able to recognize our emotions and helping ourselves transition to a calmer emotional state if we feel overwhelmed.
This exercise is about slowing down the breath. Slowing down the breath brings our heart rate down which can help our body feel less stressed. You can use this breathing exercise to help you calm down if you start to feel overwhelmed.
Notice how you are feeling. You can continue to use this any time you feel stressed.